REFUGEE AND MIGRANT JUSTICE CHARITY

Early day motion 191, tabled 9 June 2010 by Caroline Lucas (Green). Signed by 84 members.

That this House notes that the legal advice charity Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) is in danger of closing because it is facing a cash crisis because a large proportion of legal aid work is now paid upon completion, meaning payment can take anything up to two years; further notes that as a result the charity has a £1.8 million backlog of payments; further notes that senior legal and human rights experts, faith leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Citizens Advice, Liberty and Mind all back the campaign to rescue the legal advice charity from the cash crisis that is not of their own making; is aware that RMJ is not asking for new money but simply prompt payment of legal aid by the Legal Services Commission, or failing that, interest-free loans by the Government to cover the gap; and calls for the legal aid payment system to be changed to ensure charities are paid promptly for their work.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Green 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.